Major Study To Examine Effects Of Alcohol On Gay Community
January 5, 2008
(Buffalo, New York) The University of Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions is preparing to embark on what is generally regarded as the biggest study ever undertaken on the role of gender and sexual identity in alcohol use and victimization.
The five-year study will involve 400 gay and bi men and women. The research will include alcohol use and interpersonal violence, “including childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence” said Dr. Amy Hequembourg who will lead the study.
There are a range of risk and protective factors associated with alcohol abuse and victimization among individuals who face stress associated with social stigmatization of their sexual identities, according to Hequembourg.
She will investigate social support systems, involvement in GLBT community activities, and relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
Drug Rehab and Treating Couples
January 5, 2008
Sometimes it is necessary in drug rehab and alcohol rehab for both the husband and wife to go for addiction treatment. Living togerther with the same lifestyle, likely means the same result, often with an addiction to the same drug. This leads to the obvious need to seek addiction treatment at the same time. If just one person seeks drug rehab and returns to their spouse who is still addicted the odds of relapse are very high. This leads to the question of is it better to go to the same drug rehab program, or is it better to go to different drug rehabs.
Firstly, not all drug rehab programs will accept couples. The reasoning is that most drug rehabs have rules against relationships between male and female clients and having a couple presents a new set of problems with those rules. Some addiction treatment centers will accept couples, but only as two “singles”, and the couple must not sleep together, and must follow all the rules as everyone else. Thirdly there are a few drug rehab centers that will accept couples as a couple, and allow them to stay together, in the same room as they seek addiction treatment.
Each of the three available options has some benefits and some drawbacks. Going to different locations has the benefit of allowing each person in the couple to seek unique addiction treatment, without having to deal with the stress of maintaining the relationship during the drug rehab. They can concentrate solely on getting better and not have to worry about how the partner may be coping or doing on any particular day. The drawback is of course being apart. Trust issues may arise, as well as the worry of growing in different directions while apart.
Immediate Goals of Detox
December 25, 2007
The immediate goal of detox is to provide a safe withdrawal from the drug addiction and alcohol abuse and enable the patient to become drug free. Many risks are associated with withdrawal, some influenced by the setting. For persons who are severely dependent on alcohol, abrupt, unsupervised cessation of drinking may result in delirium tremens or death. Other sedative-hypnotics may produce life-threatening withdrawal syndromes. Withdrawal from opioids produces severe discomfort, but is not generally life threatening. However, risks to the patient and society are not limited to the severity of the patient’s physical disturbance, particularly when the detox is conducted in an outpatient addiction treatment setting. Outpatients experiencing withdrawal symptoms may self-medicate with street drugs. The resulting interaction between prescribed medication and street drugs may result in an overdose. Less severe side effects include sedation or a drop in blood pressure.
To provide withdrawal that is humane and protects the patient’s dignity. A caring staff, a supportive environment, sensitivity to cultural issues, confidentiality, and the selection of appropriate detox medication (if needed) are all important to providing humane withdrawal.
Alcohol Abuse and Alcohol Rehab
December 22, 2007
Alcoholism is a serious disease and the problem is growing. The National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence statistics reveal that approximately 18 million Americans abuse alcohol. Each year more than 100,000 Americans die from alcohol related deaths and alcohol abuse is a factor in nearly half of all traffic fatalities. Over half of the men and women in the United States report that one or more of their family members have an alcohol abuse problem.
According to the National Institute On Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism, alcoholism is a disease that has four main components:
. Craving-an overwhelming need to drink
. Loss of Control-An inability to put the drink down
. Physical Dependence-After a period of heavy drinking withdrawal symptoms occur
such as nausea, shaking, and anxiety
. Tolerance-Needing greater amounts of alcohol to obtain a “high”
Read more
Eating Disorders and Addiction Treatment
December 20, 2007
Basic Facts About Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are extreme expressions of a range of weight and food issues experienced by both men and women. They include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and compulsive overeating. All are serious emotional problems that can have life-threatening consequences. Some people believe an eating disorder is an addiction and as such can be treated in an addiction treatment program, others believe in psychiatric hospitalization. Either can work.
The defining features of Anorexia Nervosa are an intense and irrational fear of body fat and weight gain, an iron determination to become thinner and thinner, and a misperception of body weight and shape to the extent that the person may feel or see “fat” even when emaciation is clear to others. These psychological characteristics contribute to drastic weight loss and defiant refusal to maintain a healthy weight for height and age. Many that are anorexic may also have a drug addiction as it relates to amphetamine, cocaine, diet pills etc. An addiction treatment program may be the addiction treatment of choice for the drug addiction and then referral to an eating disorder treatment program.
Bulimia Nervosa is characterized by self-perpetuating and self-defeating cycles of binge-eating and purging. During a “binge,” the person consumes a large amount of food in a rapid, automatic, and helpless fashion. This may anesthetize hunger, anger, and other feelings, but it eventually creates physical discomfort and anxiety about weight gain. Thus, the person “purges”the food eaten, usually by inducing vomiting and by resorting to a combination of restrictive dieting, excessive exercising, laxatives, diuretics, cocaine or other drugs. Because of the abuse of these drugs, addiction treatment may be necessary. If addiction treatment is necessary, more from a detox perspective if anything, referral to an appropriate eating disorder treatment program may be appropriate.
Drug Addiction in the Family
December 19, 2007
Drug addiction is a complex issue. It affects every member of the family and can have a lasting impact on their lives. The effect on family members varies from person to person and family to family.
How Does an Drug Addiction or Alcohol Addiction Develop?
Drug addiction is a process rather than an event. In the beginning, people often don’t experience any difficulties. As their use continues, they may begin to focus more on the alcohol, drugs or gambling than they do on the other areas of their lives. This process is often influenced by a number of factors, including the culture they live in, life events, their biological makeup and their relationships with family and friends.
Researchers have looked at genetics, environment, and the combination of these two to explain how dependence develops. Right now, it’s believed that some people are genetically susceptible to becoming dependent. But this by itself is not enough to develop an addiction. A person’s life circumstances play an important role in determining whether or not a person becomes dependent.
The Lasting Recovery of Alcohol Rehab
December 10, 2007
People suffering from drug addiction and alcohol addiction need both benefits of individualized care and of socialization with others facing the same obstacles. Individualized addiction treatment is essential for enduring sobriety. While symptoms may be common, causes are never completely shared. Being an individual automatically implies that life is experienced uniquely. People require different addiction treatment therapies, and people need adequate time to explore their individual sorrows and stresses in a secure environment. However, the benefits of solidarity should never be overlooked. When rehabilitation centers provide one-on-one individualized addiction treatment, the individual and social components combine to bring faster and healthier healing.
Substance abuse attacks from all angles and progressively weakens a person into sequestered parts. Drug addiction treatment naturally reunites body, mind, and spirit into an enduring whole person again.
A drug rehab program should offer a variety of specified therapy treatments. Incorporated with individual chemical dependency counseling, state-of-the-art methods of psychotherapy and hypnotherapy enable people to heal from anxiety and memories which often cause the self-medicating substance abuse. Family counseling repairs the relationships contributing to and brought on by addiction. Life purpose and spiritual counseling enable people to embrace their true identities and to move positively forward.
Being Gay in a Straight World
December 1, 2007
It’s difficult to be gay in a straight world, so it’s no wonder that so many individuals who deem themselves to be gay or are uncertain about their sexuality search for counselors that offer gay and lesbian therapy.
Great care should be taken in locating a licensed therapist who specializes in gay therapy. Beware of therapists who may attempt to “cure” or even “convert” you. Those individuals have their own agenda.
Also be sure that your chosen therapist is well-versed on issues confronting the gay community and isn’t afraid to talk about sexual issues. It’s best to contact local or regional organizations concerned with gay issues to find a reputable counselor for your needs.
Therapy for the gay and lesbian population should consist of a number of factors and how you’re counseled may depend on where you stand as far as accepting your sexuality. A good counselor will determine that before proceeding.
Crystal Meth Addiction.. Devestating
December 1, 2007
The images in my last month local newspaper was enough to make anyone stop for a moment and see the devastating effect of crystal meth (Crystal methamphetamine) now becoming more mainstream and reaching epidemic proportion.
The newspaper featured stories about young men and women who went from being excellent students, good mothers, good fathers, all in all good citizen to becoming shameful addicts who won’t stop at anything to get their next fix.
What really captured my attention was the transformation of these beautiful men and women. How they went from being handsome to find themself looking old and sickly after they have started using crystal meth. Beside looking old and sickly, they had all kinds of lesions on their bodies, which I later found out is called crank bugs (feeling that bugs are crawling on your skin). The lesions are caused by constantly scratching your body from the itch.
Gay, Lesbian Issues in Drug Rehab
November 30, 2007
Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Issues in Behavioral/Alcohol and Drug Rehab Programs
It is essential that gay addiction treatment and gay drug rehab programs maintain a high level of sensitivity toward the unique needs of special populations, including those of gay, lesbian, and transgendered clients. For example, the alcohol and drug rehab program must appreciate the impact of issues such as societal prejudice toward the client’s lifestyle when partnering in recovery.
Promoting Risk Reduction
Other issues to be addressed in gay addiction treatment and gay drug rehab program should include a full range of educating on risk behaviors in drug rehab (as appropriate), including syringe sharing and unsafe sex, as well as instruction on and linkage to advocacy resources and screening services.
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